Beginner motivation for long runs (Read 92 times)

My wife has been getting into running to lose weight and she has seen how I have enjoyed the challenge of running progression over the past 2 years. She is getting out frequently 4-5 days per week and is improving her pace but she won't run more than 2 miles at a time unless she is running a 5k race (once every 3 months). I know she would benefit a lot from doing runs of 4-5 miles once per week to improve her endurance as well as burning calories for weight loss. I also found running more enjoyable once I started doing occasional 6-8 mile runs on the weekends.

Any tips on how I can get her motivated to occasionally do these long runs? Again, her first priority is weight loss so I think suggestions targeting this would be most helpful. Also, she is the type of person who will take someone telling them to do more as personal criticism that they aren't trying hard when that isn't the case at all.

As a person who does 50ks I'd recommend she do some strength training at least 2x's per week and seriously look at her diet before pushing to long runs.  There are a lot of marathoners who gain weight when training so running is not the magic bullet for weight loss.

She has been doing Weight Watchers since February and has lost over 30 lbs so far following WW and running. Longer runs will help burn more calories and will make shorter runs better quality to burn more calories overall.

can you guys run together? maybe she would enjoy running three or four miles if you came along and talked her through it. I understand if its  trade off thing if you have young kids at home that you take turns watching, but if that isn't a hurdle that might be one way to encourage her

I agree with letting her do her own thing. 2 miles is pretty far. She will decide when she wants to do 4 miles. If she wants to break a certain time in the 5K tell her a 45 minute run or whatever it takes will help her out because it builds endurance and can make her faster.

you could also say "If you burn 100 calories per mile you will burn 2,600 if you run a marathon. That's X days of eating!" 

I don’t think it is ever a good idea to tell your wife what to do.

Hyperbolic, but solid advice there.

My Saturday club run buddies keep trying to talk me into a marathon. I get it, they really love it, love training together, love the process and the accomplishment. But I’m a regular runner for the first time in several decades. I love being able to run every day, and be in good enough shape to scamper around 7-8 miles of a new town when I travel, feeling energized afterward instead of destroyed. I didn’t think I’d ever threaten 20:00 for 5K again. I love being at that level of fitness now too.

The point is, I’m your wife and you’re my club buddies. I think you need to appreciate what you love about the sport, and certainly share it! But let me enjoy what I’m doing, and also appreciate he fact that I’m exactly where I want to be.

MTA:spellos

I am with the rest of those discouraging you from trying to persuade your wife.

My advice is to avoid the topic like the plague. But do realize that you set an example and that's perhaps enough.

I kind of suspect that if you interject enough, you could risk turning what she enjoys into something she doesn't feel good about anymore, and might even stop.

In terms of advice, i feel rather certain on this one.

Your wife is doing an AMAZING job.  YOUR job is to be her cheerleader, not her coach.  You can answer specific questions, but that's it.

I can't tell you how annoying it is when my husband tries to give me "helpful advice" when it comes to running or losing weight.  Annoys the shit out of me!  It is not helpful.

"she is the type of person who will take someone telling them to do more as personal criticism that they aren't trying hard when that isn't the case at all."  There's your answer. 

If you have a 8 month baby then any running is good.